Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp TRJTF

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[StockGuru2k11]

SEATTLE The Seattle City Council plans to vote on reducing buffer zones to make room for more marijuana shops within the city limits. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board approved a new rule Wednesday allowing up to 222 more retailers statewide. Seattle expects the state will issue about 20 licenses in the city. A major reason the mayor and city council are debating changing zoning rules is to break up the cluster of marijuana businesses in certain parts of the city like SoDo and along Aurora Avenue. David Mendoza with Mayor's Office of Policy and Innovation says city leaders want to give every Seattle neighborhood the opportunity to have a retail marijuana store in their community, including West Seattle, South Lake Union, and Eastlake Mayor Ed Murray is proposing changing the buffer zone in so-called sensitive areas from 1,000 feet to 500 feet. The City Council is considering lowering that even further to 250 feet about a city block. That would mean pot shops could open up closer to childcare centers, public parks and recreation centers, public transit centers, and libraries. But cannabis stores still can't set up shop 1,000 feet from public schools and playgrounds, which is the state law. While some neighborhood groups and ministers have opposed reducing the buffer zones, city leaders assure these businesses are heavily regulated and can't sell pot to minors. "There's been no data that shows that there's been any increase in crime when stores are located in these neighborhoods. And again these stores are very serious about not letting underage access and our own inspectors are right there with them," said Mendoza. The council is expected to vote on changing buffer zones Monday. In the meantime, the city is taking public comment